Movie Review: Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Story: Not since The Rocky Horror Show has a transsexual rock comedy with such heart reached the big screen. This film was a real treat - a big bang for my $10. Brought to the screen after his 5 year run off-Broadway, writer, director and star John Cameron Mitchell tells a heartfelt story of Hedwig, born Hansel, in 1961's East Berlin, the year the Berlin Wall went up separating East from West Germany. The Wall becomes a running symbol of the duality of the human soul. Hedwig undergoes a botched sex change operation and ends up with a remaining angry inch. She marries an American GI, moves to Kansas and is abandoned. Through her rock band she tells the story of her quest for recognition, loneliness, identity, betrayal and love. It is both sad and wonderful at the same time (there's that duality again). Stephen Trask's score, music and lyrics complete the package. I predict this will be a cult hit and will be around for a long time. Run quickly to a multiplex for some great summer entertainment.

Acting: John Cameron Mitchell as Hedwig is stellar. She is a riveting performer and consummate entertainer. Comic Andrea Martin is very underutilized as the band's manager. Miriam Shor as Yitzach is absolutely fabulous. Actually, everyone is great.

Critters: No critters in Hedwig's world.

Food: Baked apples, candy, lobster and a great deal of flung food during a food fight.

Visual Art: Lots of posters, and several wonderful animated sequences.

Blatant Product Placement: Tootsie Rolls, Gummy Bears. Time Out New York Magazine, when Hedwig actually did appear on the cover in 1999 and Rosie O'Donnell.

Soundtrack: Terrific.

Opening Titles: Uninspired.

Theater Audience: Mostly male, but of all ages.

Quirky Meter: 5

Predictability Level: I did not know what was going to happen - I did not see the play.

Tissue Usage: 0 (but I could have welled a bit).

Oscar Worthy: I doubt it - this is not mainstream at all.

Nit Picking: There was a two dimensional stage quality to the direction that needed a little more fullness as it transposed itself to the big screen,

Big Screen or Rental: Big screen. But if you want to rent something in a similar theme you could rent Southern Comfort or if you want to rent something opposite of the angry inch you could rent Wadd (of the 13 inches).

Length: 90 minutes.

LOBO HOWLS: 8